Three men face charges for selling explosives

CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu City Prosecutor’s Office charged three men for illegal possession and manufacture of explosive powders believed to be used in making dynamite.

Prosecutor II Mary Ann Castro found probable cause to elevate the case against Eduardo Ceniza, 62, Percival Belargo, 25, and Edgardo Igot, 29. The three are from sitio Mahayahay, barangay Pasil, Cebu City.

Castro recommended a bail of P60,000 for each accused.

According to a joint affidavit from the Investigation and Detective Management Branch (IDMB) and the City Anti-Illegal Drugs Special Operation Task-Force (CAIDSOTF) Office, they received reports last January 28 that Ceniza is engaged in the illegal manufacture and sale of explosives, blasting caps and other explosives devices.

Police Superintendent Pablo Labra, deputy city director for operations of the Cebu City Police Office, initiated a buy-bust operation along with IDMB’s Police Inspector Joan Arnoco, SPO1 Bezaleel Olmedo Jr, PO3 Benigno Andrew Ilagan, PO3 Helario Coderos and PO1 Milberto Yosores, as well as PO3 Brasilio Borinaga, PO2 Christopher Torregosa and PO2 Norman Años of CAIDSOFT.

Torregosa and Arnoco who were the designated poseur-buyers, went to the place and bought blasting caps from Ceniza worth P15,000.

The poseur-buyers and the informant went to sitio Mahayahay in barangay Pasil and met Ceniza in his house. Ceniza was allegedly supervising his two workers in mixing explosive powders and fixing blasting caps.

They introduced themselves as buyer; Ceniza asked for how much and instructed them to wait as he instructed his workers to wrap 10 bundles of explosives.

After Ceniza handed the explosives to the poseur-buyers and placed the money in his pocket, Torregosa made a call to Borinaga’s phone, the signal that the transaction was completed.

Borinaga and his team rushed to the area, arrested the three accused and confiscated nine pieces of non-electric blasting caps, time fuse, and several bags containing substances believed to be cyanide and other explosive powder. — (FREEMAN)